James E. Thompson

Following the opening of Crown's facility in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thompson and his wife Sally traveled to the region, where it was brought to their attention that the village of Proa Chum needed a school. Thompson contacted the Cambodian government and agreed to provide the funds for a school, requesting that it be named in his mother's honor. Early in 2008, Thompson announced the official opening of the Hun Sen Proa Chum Primary School in Phnom Penh.

Thompson is a member of the International Advisory Board of the San Jose State University Business School and serves as the chairman of HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Council) Logistics Services Advisory Committee (where he also served as a council member from 2002 to 2004). He also served as a board member of Ocean Park Corporation for six years, a nature-themed amusement park with a mission to assist in the understanding and practice of wildlife conservation. Although Thompson retired from this post in June 2009, Crown continues to support Ocean Park through a variety of charitable activities and services.

Thompson is also a non-executive director of the board of The Wharf (Holdings), a member of the Investment Promotion Ambassador Scheme, as well as the Hong Kong Trade and Industry Advisory Board (TIAB) and the ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) Advisory Committee on Corruption. He also served two terms as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong from 2002 to 2003.

While he retained his U.S. citizenship, Thompson is a permanent resident of Hong Kong, where he has lived since 1978 with his wife Sally, who is a British national. Thompson's daughter Jennifer serves as Crown's regional managing director of North America. She lives in New York City with her husband and three children. Thompson also has a son, James Jr., who lives in Beijing, China, with his wife and young daughters.

Thompson established Crown's first operation in 1965. Thompson was living in Japan at the time and recognized the need for an international moving service. With only US$1,000 in his bank account, he established Transport Services International in Yokohama. In 1970, the company expanded into Hong Kong and thereafter into other Asia Pacific locations. In 1975, Transport Services International became Crown Pacific, and by the early 1980s was established as the leading moving company in Asia. In later years, offices were established across America, Australasia and Europe, and the company was renamed Crown Worldwide Group.

James E. "Jim" Thompson, GBS (born January 14, 1940) is an American businessman who is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Crown Worldwide Group.